Having won the toss for the third successive game, Simon Lewis reversed the procedure and asked Guildford to bat on a gloomy and windy day. Ryan Cummins and Tom Bevan kept things fairly tight, especially Cummins whose first 8 overs yielded only 12 runs. With the score on 10, Bevan removed Cunningham and from there on the struggle for wickets began.

Erasmus and Collins looked in little trouble putting on 80 before Kyle Moolman had Collins caught at mid-off. Erasmus was then joined by Edwards, Guildford’s overseas player. These two played shots all around the wicket and it came as something of a surprise when Erasmus was caught behind off Bevan for 73 when a century beckoned. Edwards though carried on regardless and reached a fine hundred off 87 balls.

The fragility of Beddington’s bowling attack was now beginning to show and in the final 10 overs of their innings Guildford added over a hundred runs to end up with 281 for 4 after 50 overs with Edwards 122 not out.

This was always going to be a big ask for Beddington and the loss of David White in Erasmus’s second over was not going to help the cause. Sam Owen and Simon Lewis once again moved the score along well until Owen (26) played all around a straight one from Birts and was LBW.

Tom Bevan first ball was a juicy full-toss but alas he hit this straight down mid-wickets throat and off he went to put Beddington on 52 for 3. By now though Beddington were getting well behind the clock, Kyle Moolman and Simon Lewis added 30 before Lewis (32) was caught behind and when Tommy Roy went cheaply Beddington were 103 for 5. Graham Lester and Moolman decided though that the attack was the best means of defence and both played through the covers particularly well and accelerated the run rate considerrably even if not enough to make one believe that the game could be won.

These two put on 97 before Lester, who for him , with much patience, was out just two short of his fifty. Moolman and Cummins continued to attack as best they could but Moolman was out for an impressive 74 which left only the tail to wag, Cummins hit a run-a-ball 29 but this was not quite enough and Beddington fell 15 runs short of their target.

Beddington are at home again next Saturday to unbeaten Reigate Priory starting at 12 noon.

On Sunday Beddington played Cheam in ECB National T20 competition and had a very comfortable win. Having lost the toss and been put in the loss of Sam Owen first ball of the game bought Arun Butler to join Jack Ballard. The pair put on 48 when in the 9th over Butler ran himself out for 19.

Tom Bevan came in to join Ballard and with the score on 73 Ballard was caught for 42 off 34 balls. Skipper Simon Lewis came in to join Bevan and the pair put on an unbeaten 84 to leave Beddington to finish on 157 for 3. Tom Bevan ended on 68 not out and Simon Lewis on 22 not out. The Cheam innings started with a flurry as Brown despatched Bevan’s first over for 11.

In the 3rd over Brown was caught behind by Owen off Bevan for 15. Despite the efforts of O’Donnell with 30 the Cheam batting struggled with the tight bowling of Beddington and at the end of their innings reached 97 for 7. The pick of the Beddington bowlers was Arun Butler with 3 for 14 off 4 overs.

SUTTON HIGH SCHOOL

Sutton High School is an independent day school for girls aged 3-18. Founded in 1884 by the GDST, it continues to provide an academically rigorous and challenging education within the framework of a caring and supportive community.

It was the London Borough of Sutton’s highest placed girls’ school in The Times A Level Results Table August 2015 and GCSE results also saw an increase in the percentage of A* grades, up to 32%, with 40% of girls achieving 9 or more A* or A grades. Come and see for yourself why The Good Schools Guide describes Sutton High as “a school to watch”. Places for our Open Events can be booked online at www.suttonhigh.gdst.net

FREE CHILDCARE

*The scheme is available to Sutton residents who earn less than £16,190, receive Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income Support, or other benefits, from the term after a child's second birthday, thanks to funding from the government.

The free childcare can be provided by nurseries, childminders, pre-schools or playgroups.